Today was truly lovely. You see today I saw something of the abundant love of God reflected in the way a father hugged his two year old son tightly to himself. He needed to, just as I needed God to hold them together and also this village whose children for generations have visited our church at significant moments in their lives.

It’s not often that a funeral and a wedding for the same family happen in the same week. A few days ago it was the funeral of the groom’s grandfather. Sixth months ago I wasn’t sure whether his father would live to see the wedding either. He is unlikely to see his grandchild grow up.

It is no wonder the groom needed to keep his child close and although colleagues thought I was daft to allow a two year old to be best man no.2, it was entirely the right thing to do. What the congregation saw was this little smiley face brimming with life poking over his father’s shoulder reminding them that life goes on and it is good. He was held quite happily by best man no.1 when his Mum and Dad turned to each other to make their vows.

They chose this passage from Isaiah 54 to read.

10 Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

11 “Afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted,
I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise,
your foundations with lapis lazuli.12 I will make your battlements of rubies,
your gates of sparkling jewels,
and all your walls of precious stones.13 All your children will be taught by the LORD,
and great will be their peace

If this couple continue to reflect God’s faithfulness through the bad times as well as the good and refuse to be shaken then they will do just fine. And if they allow each other to be creative and help each other to grow into the most beautiful people God wants them to be, made in his image, well that will be great.